2016:820 - Baldoyle/Howth, Dublin

Paul Duffy and David Stone conducted archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with a proposed pipeline scheme and reservoir upgrade at Sutton and Howth, County Dublin. Monitoring was conducted in response to planning conditions attached to the proposed development (Planning Ref.: Part VIII). It follows a previous archaeological assessment carried out by Faith Bailey in August 2015.

The groundworks in Howth required the excavation of two test trenches measuring 4m long x 0.65m wide x 2m deep to establish ground conditions for future laying of watermain pipes. Both trenches were located on a footpath running along the golf course western boundary between Howth Road (opposite the DART station) and Grace O’Malley Drive. The stratigraphy of Trench 1 was 0.15m of topsoil over 1.65m of mid-brown silty/greyish clay and in Trench 2 as 0.2m of topsoil over 1.8m of light brown, silty clay.

The groundworks at Seagrange Park in the townland of Baldoyle also required the excavation of two test trenches to establish ground conditions for future laying of pipes and to identify modern services in the area. The trenches were both located beside the footpath adjacent to tennis courts in the park. Trench 3 measured 3.5m long x 0.65m wide x 2m deep, and the stratigraphy of which was recorded as 0.1m of topsoil over 1.9m of clays; a modern gas pipe was identified in the north end of Trench 3. Trench 4 measured 4m long x 0.65m wide x 2m deep and was recorded as as 0.15m of topsoil over 1.3m of clays, which in turn formed a backfill over a 1980s iron water pipe and surrounding gravels.

Monitoring took place in the townlands of Howth and Baldoyle between 13 and 16 April, 2016. Pre-existing services were identified in several trenches however no archaeology was discovered during the course of these groundworks. As such, no further archaeological mitigation was deemed necessary.

Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow